The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-12-10
FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF the Chief State Inspector OF Work
-: Shops and Factories.


We clip the subioined notice Of
the above named report from the
last issue of the Saturday 7'oi,er Of
Columbus, Ohio, which shows rs
well as any words of ours could do,
the satisfactory and able manner
in which Mr.. Dorm performs the
duties of his Office:
"HOn. Henry Dorm, Chief Inspec-
tor of Workshops and Factories,
fled with the Governor his fourth
annual report on the 10th inst
The promptness of this model OFF,
Ger in filing his report on the very
day specified by law shows the svs-
tematic manner in which the work
of his Office is performed. Nothing
is allowed to drag, nothing to get
behind. Nothing that can be done
to-day is put off till tomorrow
But this promptness and punctual-
ity, commendable as they are, con-
stitute but a small fraction of the
report. This document is replete
with facts and suggestions of great
moment to manufacturers and
working people Of Ohio, and de-
serves the most careful considera-
tion by the members of the Gener-
al Assembly.
The report devotes considerable
space to a thorough and able dis
cussion of the various questions in
volved in the enforcement of the
inspection laws, such as child la
Dor, the benefits to be derived by
manufacturer as we'll as employe,
from q strict observance of the law;
the necessity of proper sanitary
conditions, adequate fire escapes,
guarding dangerous machinery,
etc., etc. The Inspector discusses
at some length the reciprocal rela-
tions of employer and employe, ,and
shows by his clear and comprehen-
sive views that he has devoted
much thought and investigation to
this subject. This part of the re-
port should be carefully read by
every man who takes any interest
in the labor problem. 1t is refresh
ing to turn from the senseless
twaddle and slop that is so COM
mon in treating of anything relating
to labor tc the dignitied, sober,calm
and impartial remarks of Mr.. Dorm.
He evidently writes the honest
convictions of his mind, the result
of many years practical experience.
The detailed reports of the assist
ant inspectors show that there have
been inspected during the past year
1857 establishments, and changes
of machinery, etc., ordered in near
ly one-half of them. The printed
notice specifying the number of
hours of labor that may he required
of a miner under Is years of age, as
required by an act of the last Leg
islature, has been conspiciously
posted in all places where minors
are employed.
The most gratifying facts, per-
haps, cleaned from this report is
the evidence of a change of opinion
on the part of manufacturers re-
garding the merits of inspection
Many of the leading firms and
companies of the State look upon
the law as a most excellent one,
and lend all the assistance they
can TO the inspectors in the per-
formance of their duties. AS a re-
suit of the labors of the inspectors
and of Ghis feeling of the manufac-
turers, the character Of our work
shops are rapidly improving in all
respects.
1t is to be hoped that nothing
will be done by the Legislature to-
wards frittering away the great
usefulness of this Office, or of sub
ordinating it or it's chief to the Wis.,
ionary schemes of any man. Its
successful administration requires
at it's head a man possessing special
qualifications, and those qualifica-
tions are possessed in an eminent
degree by the present chief inspec.
tor, Hon. Henry DORM"
Moral Precept and Civil Law.
A moral precept differs essenti-